Diffusion MRI Compartmental Model Analysis of DSI Data

Recently proposed compartmental models can provide new micro-structural indices for characterizing tissue micro structural properties from diffusion MRI data. The state-of the-art of compartmental model for human brain is Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI), which is able to describe the diffusion process in both intra-cellular and extra-cellular spaces in the human brain. In our work we applied this model to a group of human Diffusion Spectrum Imaging (DSI) data showing that the computation of its indices can provide new insights about the structural differences among gray matter (GM), white matter (WM) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).